DPP promises civil service reforms, revive economy
The former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)is making electoral promise of civil service reforms and that it will establish the Public and Service Remuneration Board (PSRB) that will oversee the establishment of a harmonisation of salary scale once elected into power in May 20 elections.
This was highlighted by DPP vice presidential candidate Saulos Chilima during the launching of the party’s manifesto in the capital Lilongwe.
Under the theme ‘Towards a people-centred government’, Chilima said the DPP will also ensure that people who will be recruited into the civil service meet the requirements of the positions.
In the blue print, the DPP promises to pass and implement a number of laws including Law on Handouts and a Law that will prevent sitting members of parliament from benefitting from increasing their own salaries and benefits.
DPP president Peter Mutharika has committed to have only 20 ministers in cabinet, from about 40 during the time it was in power two years ago.
The 20 ministers will include deputies “whose appointment will be based on merit, interview and vetting by a Public Appointments Committee.”
And the party has also pledged to revive the economy using a people-centred system and to institute a universal farm input subsidy programme.
Former Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Goodall Gondwe said DPP will strive to achieve economic growth rate of 7.5 % within three years through an effective agricultural and mining sector to, reduce poverty further from the 42 percent to 27 percent.
“We aim to double exports from $1 billion to $2 billion in the next five years. When we came into power under Bingu wa Mutharika, exports were at $500 million and we doubled this. We can do the same again,” he said.
Gondwe faulted President Joyce Banda’s Mudzi Transformation initiative where she is building houses to the underprivileged, saying the DPP government would empower the people economically by subsidising iron sheets and cement to allow Malawians to build their own houses.
He also attacked the maize hand-outs, saying DPP will make Malawi feed themselves.
DPP “commits itself to abolish the fertiliser coupon system and make subsidised fertiliser available for every maize subsistence farmer that needs it.”
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